Rhythm help

[ThePhoenixEffect]

I'm absolutely hopeless imo at this. It seems like for pieces that don't have either the right hand or left hand with a constant "beat" to keep me in line and "fit" in the other notes, that I have to practice the rhythm for hours counting out loud very slowly.

Other than just having reading problems, I also have a hard time keeping my timing steady.  Metrenomes don't really seem to help me.

Is there any good way to help me overcome my rhythm problems?

[bernhard]

Yes.

1. Listen to the piece and learn the rhythm by ear.

2. The best way: write down the piece on a notation software that will play it back to you, and that you can change the tempo. Then listen to it repeatedly with a range of tempos. Listen to it really slow so that you can figure out which hand goes where. Then listen to it fast to get the "general" feeling of the rhythm. However, notation midis tend to be very mechanical (they follow the metronome accurately), so in pieces where the notation is basic an approximation of the real rhythm (simply because thereal rhythm cannot be properly notated - like swing in jazz) you will need to listen to a performer or to a CD to get the actual rhythm.

3. The above ones are quick fixes. If you need a real solution you must start ear training from scratch with very simple stuff.

There is no reason not to do all approaches simultaneously.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.